Synonyms for defer
dɪˈfɜrde·fer

English Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:5.0 / 1 vote

1. defer

   To protract is to cause to occupy a longer time than is usual, expected, or desirable. We defer a negotiation which we are slow to enter upon; we protract a negotiation which we are slow to conclude; delay may be used of any stage in the proceedings; we may delay a person as well as an action, but defer and protract are not used of persons. Elongate is not used of actions or abstractions, but only of material objects or extension in space; protract is very rarely used of concrete objects or extension in space; we elongate a line, protract a discussion. Protract has usually an unfavorable sense, implying that the matter referred to is already unduly long, or would be so if longer continued; continue is neutral, applying equally to the desirable or the undesirable. Postpone implies a definite intention to resume, as defer also does, though less decidedly; both are often used with some definite limitation of time; as, to postpone till, until, or to a certain day or hour. One may defer, delay, or postpone a matter intelligently and for good reason; he procrastinates through indolence and irresolution. Compare HINDER.

   Synonyms:
   continue, delay, draw out, elongate, extend, lengthen, postpone, procrastinate, prolong, protract

   Antonyms:
   abbreviate, abridge, conclude, contract, curtail, hasten, hurry, limit, reduce, shorten

   Preposition:
   To protract a speech by verbosity, through an unreasonable time, to, till, or until a late hour.

Complete Dictionary of Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:1.0 / 1 vote

1. defer

   Synonyms:
   delay, postpone, waive, adjourn, prorogue, put off, retard, procrastinate, protract, hinder, prolong

   Antonyms:
   expedite, hasten, quicken, press, urge, hurry, overdrive, despatch

Princeton's WordNetRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. postpone, prorogue, hold over, put over, table, shelve, set back, defer, remit, put offverb

   hold back to a later time

   "let's postpone the exam"

   Synonyms:
   put back, put over, elude, circumvent, set back, turn off, confuse, sidestep, dishearten, remand, give in, remit, parry, dodge, bow, send back, tabulate, accede, flurry, prorogue, hedge, put off, evade, tabularise, table, tabularize, carry over, postpone, duck, slacken, shelve, hold over, disconcert, knock back, get across, fudge, submit, skirt

2. submit, bow, defer, accede, give inverb

   yield to another's wish or opinion

   "The government bowed to the military pressure"

   Synonyms:
   put over, set back, put forward, buckle under, crouch, pass on, relegate, put in, resign, take, bow, give in, state, subject, remit, acquiesce, reconcile, accede, prorogue, assent, knuckle under, put off, bend, render, table, present, yield, postpone, posit, shelve, enter, hold over, succumb, bow down, stoop, submit

Dictionary of English SynonymesRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. deferverb

   Synonyms:
   postpone, delay, adjourn, procrastinate, put off, stave off, let lie over

PPDB, the paraphrase databaseRate these paraphrases:0.0 / 0 votes

1. List of paraphrases for "defer":

   postpone, reporter, delay, adjourn, differ, postponement, refer

How to pronounce defer?

How to say defer in sign language?

Usage in printed sourcesFrom: 

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Words popularity by usage frequency

How to use defer in a sentence?

1. Linda Duessel:

   A lot of companies who pay dividends and can no longer afford them are more likely to suspend or defer than those who have the culture to say 'This is one of the most important things to our shareholder base,'.

2. Peter Chen:

   Murdoch will use his media vehicles to achieve his policy outcomes, politicians across both of the spectra have tended to defer to his interests when thinking about media policy.

3. Mike Henry:

   And on The Cleveland Showif there was a joke I wasnt sure about, I would defer to Sanaa [Lathan] or some of the other writers in the room who walk the walk and live the life because I dont. And Id say, Can we do this? Whats up? You guys do this and tell me what I can do. Im coming from a good place and I hope people arent upset.

4. Kasim Reed:

   I think you will continue to see the public defer to the local mayor, and that's the signal that everybody will be waiting to hear from, so while the economy is opening, I don't think there is anywhere near the level of activity you would have if the mayor of Atlanta or Houston or San Antonio were in line with the governor's policies.

5. Chief Executive Robert Martin:

   Our general approach has been to talk about a three-month deferral where we maybe defer around half of their rent and then have them pay back whenever their strong period is later in the year.